Built this pond in 1988 and it has leaked some from the start. Leak is located in the dam in an area roughly 10'w x 100'l (3' down from top of dam). Probably not cored correctly....... Is fixing a leak like this feasible or should I fill it in and call it a day?

If it is this low because of the drought, it may be an opportunity to have it fixed. More information would be helpful like a photo of where the water is "leaking".

Yes the drought is the reason for it being so low..... The pond only leaks when full & leaks through the dam (in first pic looking north) starting at mid point in an area 10' w x 100'(3' below the top of dam) back to the south .......

It comes down to a couple things..

Do you want the pond anymore?

Do you want to spend the money to fix it? (if so nows the time, drain it completely).

The pond is a very nice addition to my place when it's full and on the flip side, it's an eyesore when it's low....... It's fed by a creek on the north end (through the spillway). The creek only runs during runoff rains. I've considered a well but obviously the leak needs to fixed first.

I'm willing to spend the money to have the dam leak repaired, but I'm needing advice on the best way to approach this. The leak in the dam is at the top(10x100'area) with no basin issues, so I don't see the need to completely drain it.

I think you'll most likely have to re-core the dam, which would mean draining most if not all of the pond to minimize the chance of having a blow-out when the core is dug in the dam.

Thanks esshup! Please bear with me here....... How does the re-core process work?

http://www.sccdistrict.com/pond.htm

See #3 and #4. Compacting with a tracked vehicle (dozer, etc.) by itself won't properly compact the soil. It needs to be compacted with a sheepsfoot roller, a loaded pan scraper, etc. Something that pushes the next layer of soil down and knits it with the previous layer, not something that allows the soil to stay like pages in a book.

But, I'm not a dirt guy, and I'd bet a dirt guy will have a different explanation.

Thanks for the link essup! I know nothing about dirt work myself, but I have a friend that's done it for forty plus years & he's stopping by next week to have a look......